Apparatus for Treating Items with Gas

Abstract

Apparatus for treating items with a treatment gas to decontaminate the items includes a chamber which receives the items. The chamber has a gas inlet in fluid communication with a distribution duct positioned within the chamber. The duct distributes the treatment gas throughout the chamber to prevent gas stratification. The chamber may also have a gas outlet for exhausting the chamber, a treatment gas source providing gas, such as ozone, carbon dioxide, or other treatment gas to the chamber. A vacuum pump is used to lower the pressure within the chamber and a purge pump is used to flush the treatment gas from the chamber upon completion of the treatment. A liquid reservoir is used to maintain a desired humidity within the chamber. A heat exchanger is used to maintain a desired temperature within the chamber, and a fan is used to circulate the treatment gas within the chamber.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for treating items with a treatment gas from a source of said treatment gas, said apparatus comprising:
 a chamber adapted to receive said items, said chamber having a gas inlet, said gas inlet being connectable to said source of said treatment gas;   a distribution duct positioned within said chamber, said distribution duct having an intake in fluid communication with said gas inlet and a plurality of openings for distributing said treatment gas throughout said chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pump in fluid communication with said chamber for exchanging gases between the ambient and said chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said pump comprises a vacuum pump having an intake port in fluid communication with said chamber and an exhaust port in fluid communication with the ambient. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said pump comprises a purge pump having an intake port in fluid communication with the ambient and an exhaust port in fluid communication with said chamber. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said chamber further comprises a gas outlet providing fluid communication between said chamber and the ambient. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir positioned within said chamber, said reservoir for holding a liquid. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reservoir for holding a liquid, said reservoir being in fluid communication with said chamber for releasing said liquid into said chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fan positioned within said chamber for circulating said treatment gas therein. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heat exchanger having a heat transfer surface positioned within said chamber for transferring heat between said treatment gas within said chamber and the ambient. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a device in fluid communication with said chamber for measuring a concentration of said treatment gas within said chamber. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a gas destructing unit in fluid communication with said chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein said gas destructing unit is selected from the group consisting of a heater, a furnace, a catalyst bed and a gas absorbent bed. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a layer of insulation surrounding said chamber. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heating and cooling jacket surrounding said chamber, said jacket adapted to receive a medium for heating or cooling said chamber. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for treating items with a treatment gas, said apparatus comprising:
 a source of said treatment gas;   a fluid tight chamber adapted to receive said items, said chamber having a gas inlet in fluid communication with said source of said treatment gas and a gas outlet providing fluid communication between said chamber and the ambient;   an inlet valve in fluid communication with said gas inlet and controlling flow of said treatment gas from said source of said treatment gas into said chamber;   an exhaust valve in fluid communication with said gas outlet and controlling flow of said treatment gas from said chamber to the ambient;   a distribution duct positioned within said chamber, said distribution duct having an intake in fluid communication with said gas inlet and a plurality of openings for distributing said treatment gas throughout said chamber;   a vacuum pump having an intake port in fluid communication with said chamber and an exhaust port in fluid communication with the ambient.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a purge pump having an intake port in fluid communication with the ambient and an exhaust port in fluid communication with said chamber. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a reservoir positioned within said chamber for holding a liquid, said reservoir being open for disbursing said liquid throughout said chamber. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a reservoir for holding a liquid;   a nozzle in fluid communication with said chamber and said reservoir, said nozzle for injecting said liquid into said chamber;   a control valve positioned between said reservoir and said nozzle for controlling flow of said liquid to said chamber.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a fan positioned within said chamber for circulating said treatment gas therein. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a heat exchanger having a heat transfer surface positioned within said chamber for transferring heat between said treatment gas within said chamber and the ambient. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , further comprising a device in fluid communication with said chamber for measuring a concentration of said treatment gas within said chamber. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said treatment gas is selected from the group consisting of ozone, carbon dioxide, chlorine dioxide, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, methyl bromide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said source of said treatment gas is selected from the group consisting of an ozone generator, a chlorine dioxide generator and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said source of said treatment gas is selected from the group consisting of a tank of carbon dioxide, a tank of ethylene oxide, a tank of propylene oxide, a tank of methyl bromide and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for treating items with a treatment gas, said apparatus comprising:
 a source of said treatment gas;   a fluid tight chamber adapted to receive said items, said chamber having a gas inlet, and a gas outlet providing fluid communication between said chamber and the ambient;   an inlet duct providing fluid communication between said source of said treatment gas and said gas inlet;   an inlet valve positioned in said inlet duct and controlling flow of said treatment gas from said source of said treatment gas to said chamber;   a bypass duct providing fluid communication between said gas inlet and the ambient;   a first exhaust valve positioned within said bypass duct for controlling flow of said treatment gas between said gas inlet and the ambient;   a bypass valve in fluid communication with said gas inlet, said inlet duct and said bypass duct, said bypass valve positioned to control flow of said treatment gas to said chamber, or, to the ambient through said first exhaust valve;   a second exhaust valve in fluid communication with said gas outlet and controlling flow of said treatment gas from said chamber to the ambient;   a distribution duct positioned within said chamber, said distribution duct having an intake in fluid communication with said gas inlet and a plurality of openings for distributing said treatment gas throughout said chamber;   a vacuum pump having an intake port in fluid communication with said chamber and an exhaust port in fluid communication with the ambient.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising a purge pump having an intake port in fluid communication with the ambient and an exhaust port in fluid communication with said chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising a reservoir positioned within said chamber for holding a liquid, said reservoir being open for disbursing said liquid throughout said chamber. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a reservoir for holding a liquid;   a nozzle in fluid communication with said chamber and said reservoir, said nozzle for injecting said liquid into said chamber;   a control valve positioned between said reservoir and said nozzle for controlling flow of said liquid to said chamber.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising a fan positioned within said chamber for circulating said treatment gas therein. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising a heat exchanger having a heat transfer surface positioned within said chamber for transferring heat between said treatment gas within said chamber and the ambient. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , further comprising a device in fluid communication with said chamber for measuring a concentration of said treatment gas within said chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said treatment gas is selected from the group consisting of ozone, carbon dioxide, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said source of said treatment gas comprises an ozone generator. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus according to  claim 25 , wherein said source of said treatment gas comprises a tank of carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         35 . A method of decontaminating a plurality of eggs, said method comprising:
 subjecting said eggs to a gas pressure less than atmospheric pressure;   subjecting said eggs to ozone at a pressure above atmospheric pressure;   maintaining said eggs at a relative humidity of at least 80% while subjecting said eggs to said ozone.   
     
     
         36 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising subjecting said eggs to a gas pressure less than atmospheric from about 1 to about 29.9 inches Hg vac. 
     
     
         37 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising subjecting said eggs to a gas pressure less than atmospheric of about 10-15 inches Hg vac. 
     
     
         38 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising subjecting said eggs to said ozone at a pressure from about 3 psig to about 15 psig. 
     
     
         39 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising subjecting said eggs to said ozone at a pressure of about 9-12 psig. 
     
     
         40 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising subjecting said eggs to said ozone for a duration from about 5 minutes to about 60 minutes. 
     
     
         41 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising subjecting said eggs to said ozone for a duration of about 25 minutes to about 45 minutes. 
     
     
         42 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising subjecting said eggs to said ozone at a concentration from about 1% wt to about 14% wt. 
     
     
         43 . The method according to  claim 35 , comprising subjecting said eggs to said ozone at a concentration of about 8% wt to about 12% wt. 
     
     
         44 . The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising wetting said eggs with water before subjecting said eggs to said gas pressure less than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         45 . The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising heating said eggs before subjecting said eggs to said gas pressure less than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         46 . The method according to  claim 45 , further comprising heating said eggs to a temperature from about 55° C. to about 60° C. 
     
     
         47 . The method according to  claim 45 , further comprising heating said eggs to a temperature of about 56° C. to about 57° C. 
     
     
         48 . The method according to  claim 35 , further comprising cooling said eggs after heating said eggs. 
     
     
         49 . The method according to  claim 48 , further comprising cooling said eggs to a temperature from about 5° C. to about 30° C. 
     
     
         50 . The method according to  claim 48 , further comprising cooling said eggs to a temperature of about 15° C. to about 20° C.